Lumber sorting and stacking apparatus



Oct. 18, 1966 J. M. LAWSON LUMBER SORTING AND STACKING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1964 E 0 R mm mm. mMm H P w w Oct. 18, 1966 J. M. LAWSON LUMBER SORTING AND STACKING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mNm .090 wkm m9 INVENTOR. JOSEPH M. LAWSON q H u N Qnm 1 MW mm 00 |HHHHI NI HMHL Q Qmm fi L h 6? Oct. 18, 1966 J M. LAWSON LUMBER SORTING AND STACKING APPARATUS 6 SheetsSheet 5 Filed April 5, 1964 INVENTOR.

JUSEPH M. LAWSON Oct. 18, 1966 J. M. LAWSON LUMBER SORTING AND STAGKING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 5, 1964 INVENTOR JOSEPH M. LAWSON wwza/w az kvm km BY A United States Patent 3,279,600 LUMBER SORTING AND STACKING APPARATUS Joseph M. Lawson, Memphis, Tenn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Moore Dry Kiln Company, Jacksonville, Fla.

Filed Apr. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 357,065 13 Claims. (Cl. 209-74) This invention relates to apparatus of the type for sorting lumber into desired categories or separations and stacking the separated lumber.

In apparatus of this type, the ultimate objectives should comprise three things, namely: (1) A correct decision or selection as to the category into which the lumber is to be placed or separated; (2) a separating or pulling 01f of the lumber from the main group or channel; and (3) a placing of the separated lumber into stacks that can be mechanically handled for the next operation. In previous years, there have been many attempts to provide equipment for sorting lumber into various categories, and some have done a good job of selecting and separating, but none have accomplished all three of the above-mentioned objectives. -In other words, in the previous attempts, :after the lumber was selected and ejected, it was necessary to handle the lumber board-by-board to get them grouped for shipping, etc.

The present invention is directed towards providing apparatus that accomplishes all three of the above-mentioned objectives.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide apparatus which makes the correct decision as to the category into which the lumber is to be placed or separated, which separates the lumber from the main group, and which places the separated lumber into a stack that can be mechanically handled for the next operation. 7

A further object is to provide in such apparatus a very effective and improved means for correctly sensing the individual boards as to whether or not the individual boards should be separated from the main group and to subsequently remove the board if the decision has been made as to its selection.

A further object is to provide, in such apparatus, means for accumulating the selected and removed boards and for forming individual courses of boards from the boards accumulated.

A further object is to provide, in such apparatus, skewing means for'moving the individual courses into a stack with the layers being arranged in a desired pattern, as, for example, into parallel and offset layers or criss-crossed layers.

A further object of such skewing means is to arrange each layer in such a manner that voids in random or mixed widths will not cause the stack to break down.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction of apparatus for sorting and stacking lumber.

The means by which theforegoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood from the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of that portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, but viewed from the side thereof.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing other portions of the apparatus of the present invention, with parts removed for purposes of clarity.

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FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of that portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the sensing device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as on the line VI--VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a view taken as on the line VIIVII of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9is a sectional view taken as on the line IX-IX of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the memory portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line XIXI of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken as on the line XIIXII of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic View showing a portion of the hoist control mechanism.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the control portions of the sensing, memory and selection portions of the apparatus of the present invention. 7 FIG. '15 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the course skewing portion of the apparatus of the present invention. 7 FIG. 16 is an end elevational view of that portion shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line XVII-XVII of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line XIX-XIX of FIG. 17

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line XX)O( of FIG. '17.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of the electrical and hydraulic controls of the skewing portion, the course moving portion, and the stacking portion of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 22 'is a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus of the present invention.

' Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by reference characters, the apparatus 11 of the present invention comprises, in general, a main conveyor 13 that carries the boards or pieces of lumber L to be sorted and stacked past a plurality of sorting and stacking stations 15. For the purposes of clarity and understanding of the present invention, in FIG. 22 is illustrated a typical arrangement of the apparatus 11 of the present invention, and oneexample of the type of separation provided by the apparatus is given hereinbelow. In FIG. 22, the receiving end 17 of main conveyor 13 is that end to the left in this fig, where the boards are received, and they are carried to the right past the sorting and stacking stations 15, which for purposes of clarity have been designated as 15a for the first station, 15b for the second station, and so on. For purposes of example and not limitation, the sensing devices at the various stations are set, in a manner to be described more fully in the detailed description to follow, so that boards having at least the following dimensions are separated or taken off at the following stations: 7

Station 15alength, 16 feet; thickness, 2 inches. Station 15blength, 14 feet; thickness, 2 inches. Station 15c-1ength, 12 feet; thickness, 2 inches. Station 15dlength, 10 feet; thickness, 2 inches. Station 15elength, 8 feet; thickness, 2 inches. Station 15f-length, 16 feet; thickness, 1 inch. Station 15glength, '14 feet; thickness, 1 inch.

Station 15hlength, 12 feet; thickness, 1 inch.

3 Station 15ilength, feet; thickness, 1 inch. Station 'length, 8 feet; thickness, 1 inch.

Thus, it will be understood that when the boards come to the first station 15a, all boards which are at least 2 inches thick and at least 16 feet long will be taken off, and the remainder will be taken down to station 1511 Where all boards that are at least 2 inches thick and at MAIN CONVEYOR The main conveyor 13 of the present invention preferably comprises a plurality of laterally spaced conveyor portions 19, each of which consists of a continuous elongated member such as a chain led over sprockets 21 and driven by suitable means so that the upper flight 23 moves tothe right in FIGS. 1, 2 and 22, and the lumben L is canried thereby. Main conveyor 13 is provided with a pluralityof lugs 25 which are arranged in groups of threes, with each of the groups being transversely aligned, with the individual lugs 25 of each group being respectively attached to the conveyor portions 19, and with the groups being equally spaced along the length of main conveyor 13. Thus, the main conveyor 13 is adapted to carry the pieces of lumber L with the pieces disposed substantially transversely of the direction of travel of the conveyor and substantially equally spaced apart.-

Suitable means is provided for depositing the pieces of lumber L onto main conveyor 13 so that there is only one piece of lumber engaged by each group of lugs 25. Since any means known to those skilled in the art may be provided for depositing the pieces of lumber L on main conveyor 13, the following general description should suflice: A first conveyor 27 is provided for placing the lumber L to be sorted. First conveyor 27 moves the pieces of lumber L to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 1, 3 and 22, and onto inclined feed conveyor 29 which feeds the pieces onto suitable means, as a board dealer 31, that separates the boards and drops them one at a time in the proper place on main conveyor 13. An example of a preferred means for depositing one board at a time onto the main conveyor is shown in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 178,067, filed Mar. 7, 1962, Patent No. 3,162,292.

Adjacent the beginning of main conveyor 13 is provided an evener 33 for aligning the ends of pieces L. Evener 33 is formed of any suitable structure such as a piece of material that is attached to the frame 35 ,of main conveyor 13 and angled inwardly towards the boards so that as the boards are carried past evener 33, they are moved endwise until the ends contacted by evener33 are in a given position relative to main conveyor 13. The purpose of evener 33 is so that the lengths of the boards can be gauged at the opposite ends thereof from evener 33, in a manner later to be described.

SELECTION AND REMOVAL PORTION, At each of the stations 15 there is provided a selection and removal portion that includes, among other things,

attachedto vertical plate 41. C-shaped member 47 in-. cludes a lower horizontal portion 51, which'is the part actually attached to vertical plate 41, an upper horizontal portion 53 spaced above portion 51, and an intermediate vertical portion 55 that integrally interconnects the outer ends of portions 51, 53. C-shaped member 49 is similarly constructed and includes lower horizontal portion 57, upper horizontal portion 59, and intermediate vertical 1 portion 61, which respectively correspond to portions 51, 53 and 55.

A parallel linkage arrangement is pivotally mounted 1 from upper portions 53,. 59and includes a pair of depending and spaced parallel arms 63, respectively pivotally mounted adjacent the lower ends thereof to la horizontal and inverted channel-shaped member 67, as by fastening means 69, '71. The upper end of arm 65 is pivotally mounted at the end of upper portion 59 as at pivot point 73 by. suitable means, and the upper end of arm 63 is pivotally mounted at the end of upper portion 53 by a spindle 75 to which the arm is fixedly 'attachedand which spindle rotatably extends through upper portion 53 and out the opposite end. thereof for a portion at 77, as best seen in FIG. 5. Arm 63 is preferably made in two spaced parts, 53a and 63b, which preferably have the lower ends thereof disposed on the. interior of the upstanding flanges of horizontal member 67. Arm 65 is also preferably made in two spaced apart parts, 65a and 65b,which are preferably disposed on the outside of the upstanding flanges of horizontal member 67. A lower horizontal and channel-shaped member. 79 is fixedly supporteduon frame.39 below horizontal member 67 so that the evened ends E of the pieces of lumber L pass between the members 67, 79 as they are carried along by main conveyor 13. At the receiving end, or

end to the right as viewed in FIG. 6, of horizontal member 67 is provided a roller 81 which'is positioned so that the endsE will engage the roller and cause the member 67 .to swing upwardly to allow the ends E to pass between'th-is member 67 and lower member 79. Also, the receiving end of lower horizontal member 79 is preferably beveled as at 83 to prevent the ends of the 1 It Will be understood boards from catching thereon. that without a piece of lumber L between the members 67, 79, the member 67 will normally be in a position closely adjacent lower member 79, but when a piece of lumber L passes therebetween, it will be understood 5 that the upward swingof member 67 will cause arms 63, 65 to rotate clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6. This clockwise rotation of arm 63 will cause spindle 75 to rotate clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6, which, in turn,

will cause clockwise rotation of a sprocket 85 fixedly attached to spindle 75 on portion 77 thereof. Sprocket 85 causes rotation of a sprocket 87 to which it is con nected by means of a continuous chain 89.. Sprocket 87 is mounted on an axle 91 which, in turn, is rotatably mounted from a vertical member 93 that extends between C-shaped members 47, 49 and forms. a part of frame 39. A disc 95 is fixedly attached to axle 91 .so

that the heretofore described rotation of sprockets 85,

87 will cause rotation of disc 95, and it will be understood that this rotation will be in a counterclockwise direction, .as viewed. in FIG. 7. A cam member 97,

. which is substantially C-shaped in cross-section, embraces the edge of disc 95 and is adjustably held thereon as.

by means of set screws 99.- Cam 97 includes a cam surface 101 that is engaged by a roller 103 on the. end

of the arm 1050f switch 107, which is normally open when there is no piece of lumber L between-the members 67, 79 or when the piece of lumber is of an ,in-

suflicient thickness, but is closed when a piece of lumber of sufiicient thickness is disposed therebetween to cause the roller- 103 to be disposed opposite the raised portion 109 of cam surface 101. It will be understood that by adjusting the position of cam member 97 on disc 95,.

the thickness of the piece of lumber L which will cause closing of switch 107 can be selected.

There are two switches, namely, switch 111 and switch 113, which are normally open, but which are closed when a piece of lumber L of at least a certain width is received in the sensing mechanism 37. Switch 111 is adjustably mounted for adjustment along the direction of travel of the piece of lumber L. Thus, switch 111 is slidably mounted on a horizontal rod 115 which is mounted adjacent the opposite ends thereof from vertical members 117, 119 that are rigidly attached to and upstand from horizontal member 67. A plate 121 also is upstanding from member 67 and disposed between vertical members 117, 119 in perpendicular relationship thereto. The body of switch 111 is threadedly mounted on a threaded member 123 which, inturn, is rotatably mounted from vertical members 117, 119 and is provided with a squared end 125 adapted to be engaged by a suitable tool for rotating the threaded member 123. It will be understood that by rotating the threaded member 123, the position of switch 111 can be adjusted along the length thereof. Switch 111 includes a dependingfinger 127 which extends below member 67 in the path of movement of the piece of lumber L so that when the leading edge of the piece of lumber contacts finger 127, switch 111 is caused to close. A lever 129 is pivotally mounted from member 67, as by fastening means 69, and extends towards the receiving end of member 67 between the flanges thereof. Lever 129 is provided adjacent the distal end thereof with a depending lug 131 having a sloping face 132, and an upstanding ear 133, also having a sloping face 135, which is adapted to contact a roller 137 on the arm 139 of switch 113. A transverse pin 141 is mounted on upstanding ear 133 and engages the top of member 67 to limit downward movement of the lever 129 and hold it in a normal horizontal position, best seen in FIG. 6. Lever 129 is so arranged that when the piece of lumber L contacts lug 131, it moves the lever upwardly to cause ear 133 to contact roller 137 and move arm 139 upwardly to close switch 113. It will be understood that when the piece of lumber L is wide enough to bridge between lug 131 and finger 127, both of the switches 111, 113 will be closed, and the piece of lumber of that width will be selected, depending upon other conditions existing as will be more apparent in the description to follow later in the specification.

A switch 143, which concerns the length of the pieces of lumber L, forms part of the sensing mechanism. 37 and is mounted adjacent the opposite side of main conveyor 13 from the evened ends E of the pieces of lumber so that when the pieces of lumber are of a sufficient length to be selected at the particular station, the switch 143 is caused to close when the lumber hits finger 145.

All of the switches of sensing mechanism 37, that is, switches 107, 111, 113 and 143, are in a circuit (see FIG. 14) in series with one another and with a solenoid 147 in a timer or memory device 149 to be described in more detail later in the specification. Thus, switches 107, 111, 113 and 143 are interposed in an electrical lead 151 which leads from a suitable source of electricity, not shown, and which is connected to one terminal 161 of solenoid 147. The other terminal 163 of solenoid 147 leads back to the source of electricity through ground, or through another lead, as desired. It will be understood that, in the abovedescribed circuit, when all of the, switches 107, 111, 113 and 143 are closed, solenoid 147 will be energized and the plunger 165 will be lifted upwardly for a purpose later to be described.

Timer 149 (see FIGS. 10, 11 and 12) comprises a base 167 preferably formed from spaced upper and lower plates 169, 171 rigidly interconnected by laterally spaced and upstanding channel members 173, 175. Base 167 is attached to the side of framework 43 as by means of bolts 177. A pair of bearings 179, 181, which are mounted in horizontally aligned apertures respectively in channel members 173, 175 by means of bolts 183, rotatably carry the opposite ends of a shaft upon which is mounted a sprocket or wheel 187. Wheel 187 is driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 10, in synchronization with main conveyor 13 by suitable means, as a chain 189 which connects sprocket or wheel 187 to a sprocket 191 which is rotatably driven by suitable means from main conveyor 13. A plurality of pins 193, preferably three in number, are respectively slidably mounted in apertures extending transversely through wheel 187. Each of pins 193 is provided with a pair of spaced stops 195, 197 disposed on opposite sides of wheel 187 to limit sliding movement of the pin. Also, each of pins 193 is provided with an accept end portion 199 and an opposite reject end portion 201, and each pin is slidable between an accept position in which the accept end portion 199 is extended away from wheel 187, and stop 197 is against the opposite side of the wheel, as best seen by the upper one of the pins in FIG. 11, and a reject position in which the reject end portion 201 is extended away from the wheel, and stop is abutting the opposite side of the wheel, as best seen by the lower one of pins 193 in FIG. 11. In FIG. 12, the pin 193 to the right in this fig. is shown in a reject position, and the other two pins are shown in an'accept position. The pins 193 are disposed on wheel 187 at substantially the same distances from the center of the wheel and are equally spaced apart at angles of 120 degrees.

An actuating device 203, of which solenoid 147 is a part, is provided in timer 149 and comprises a segment or elongated actuating plate 205 that is disposed adjacent a portion of the path of movement of pins 193 on the side of Wheel 187 adjacent reject end portions 201. Actuating plate 205 is less than the width between any two of the pins 193, that is, less than 120 degrees, so that no two of the pins will be directly opposite actuating plate 205 at the same time. Actuating plate 205 is preferably sloped at the opposite ends 207, 209 thereof to prevent breakage of parts in the event of malfunctioning. Actuating plate 205 is fixedly mounted on an arm 211 that, in turn, is pivotally mounted from base 167 for pivot about a horizontal axis as by means of bolt-nut assembly 213. Arm 211 preferably includes a pair of spaced apart substantially horizontal members 215, 217 and a pair of spaced apart substantially vertical members 219, 221 that respectively depend from members 215, 217. A transverse angle member 223 is rigidly interconnected between horizontal members 215, 217. A fastening member 225 is fixedly attached to channel member 175 through an aperture therein and slidably extends through an aperture in angle member 223 with a head 227 being provided on the distal end thereof to limit inward pivot, or pivot counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 11, of arm 211. A compression spring 229 extends between channel member 175 and angle member 223 to urge arm 211 counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 11. An angular member or eraser 231, having a sloped end face 232, is mounted from channel member 173 with face 232 in the path of movement of the accept end portions 199 when they are in the accept position so that any pins 193 that are in the accept position will contact eraser 231 to move the pin into the reject position. Eraser 231 is located directly opposite actuating plate 205 adjacent the leading edge thereof, that is, the edge to the left as viewed in FIG. 10, and on the opposite side of wheel 187 from the actuating plate 205. Movement of a pin 193 to the reject position by eraser 231, as above-described, will cause actuating plate 205 to be moved from the tripped position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 12, to the cocked position, shown in dotted lines in this fig. When actuating plate 205 is moved into said cocked position, plunger 165 will drop under the force of gravity behind angle member 223 to hold the actuating plate 205 in the cocked position. Actuating plate 205 will remain in the cocked position until solenoid 147 is actuated, as heretofore described, by closing the switches. 107,111, 113 and 143, which will 7. lift plunger 165, whereupon actuating plate 205 will move to said tripped position and move the pin 193 which is adjacent the actuating plate 205 :to said accept position. After leaving actuating plate 205, a pin 193 will always be in the reject position unless solenoid 147 has been actuated. Next, the pin will pass, upon continued rotation of wheel 187, down towards the. bottom of the wheel where a pair of normally open switches 233,235 are mounted on opposite sides of wheel 187 on ayoke 237 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 185. A set screw 239 extends through lower plate 171 and engages yoke 237 to hold him a set position. Thus, it will be seen that the positions of switches 233, 235 are adjustable. The roller 241 on the arm 243 of switch 233 is in the path of movement of accept end portions 199 when the pins 193 are in the accept positions so that the pins, when in the accept positions, will cause switch 233 to be momentarily closed. Similarly, the roller 245 on arm 247 of switch 235 is disposed in the path of movement of the reject end portions 201 of pins 193 when the pins are in the reject positions so that the pins, when in the reject positions, will cause momentary closure of switch 235. The electrical circuits for switches 233, 235 are best shown in FIG. 14 wherein it will be seen that a hot lead 249 extends from a suitable source of electricity, not shown, to switch 233, and a lead 251 extends from the switch 233 to one terminal of the solenoid 253 of a two-position fourway double-solenoid valve 255. The other terminal of solenoid 253 leads back to the source of electricity, as through ground. Thus, when switch 233 is closed, solenoid 253 is energized to cause valve 255 to move to the dotted line position, whereupon fluid, as hydraulic fluid, under pressure from a source 257 is allowed to pass through the valve and throughconduit 259 to the rearward end of a piston-cylinder assembly 261. This causes the piston rod 263 to be extended. It will be understood that during this movement of the piston rod, the hydraulic fluid will be dumped through the conduit 265.

One terminal of switch 235 is connected to a suitable" source of electricity by a lead 267. The other terminal of switch 235 is connected by a lead 269 to one terminal of a solenoid 271 which forms partof valve 255, and the other terminal of the solenoid is grounded. Thus, when switch 235 is closed, solenoid 271 will be energized and valve 255 will be in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 14. Conduit 265 is connected to the frontend of piston-cylinder assembly 261 so that when valve 255 is in the position shown in solid lines, as above-described, the piston rod 263 will be caused to retract. Y

Piston rod 263 is pivotally connected to a rocker arm 275 (see FIG. 2) attached to a rocker shaft 277 pivotally mounted from framework 43 for pivot about a horizontal axis transverse of main conveyor 13.-- A relatively short bridge conveyor 279 is mounted on rocker shaft 277 and preferably comprises three laterally spaced portions, with each of the portions including an arm 281 fixedly attached at one end to rocker shaft 277, a pair of sprockets 283, 285 rotatably mounted from arm 281 in spaced relationship respectively adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, and a continuous member, as a chain 287, disposed around sprockets 283, 285. A plurality of lugs 289 are provided on chain 287, with the lugs of each portion of bridge conveyor 279 being transversely aligned in a manner similar to lugs 25 on main conveyor 13, so that the aligned lugs 289-on the three portions are arranged to contact the pieces of lumber L, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, suitable means, not shown, is provided for driving chains 287 so that the upper flights thereof move to the right, as viewed in FIGS. land 2, at thesame speed as lugs 25. Bridge conveyor 279 and piston-cylinder assembly 261- are arranged so that when piston rod 263 is extended, as heretofore described, the bridge conveyor 279 isin an up or closed position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, so thatit spans the space between the main conveyor 13 and an accumulator conveyor 291,

which also is preferably in three portions. When the nized with lugs 25 so that when the bridge conveyor 279 is in a closed position, one ofthe lugs 289 will be in such a position adjacent one ofthe lugs 25 that said one of the lugs 289 will come behind the piece of lumber L and push it up the bridge conveyor 279, and when the bridge conveyor is in an open position, the lugs 289 are in align ment with the corresponding lugs 25 on the main conveyor 13. The distance between the foot, or end to the left as viewed in FIG. 2, of bridge conveyor 279 and sensing mechanism 37 is important. Thus, this distance should correspond to the angular distance on wheel 187 between the actuation of a pin 193 by actuating device 203 and .the pins arrival at switches233 or 235. the time the piece of lumber L1, which is shown in FIG; 2 just before being sensed by the sensing mechanism 37,

veyor 279 would move to the closed position just as that board reached the foot of the conveyor so that the board would be carried up the bridge conveyor and onto the. accumulator conveyor 291. By the. same token, if any.

of the switches 107, 111, 113 or 143 were not closed, which would indicatethat the board was not acceptable, then-when the board reached the foot of the bridge conveyor 279, the bridge conveyor would remain in the down or open'position and allow the board to continue on .to' the next station. In the adjustment of the tirning, it will be understood thatthe chain 189 and sprockets 187, 191 can be adjusted relative to one another so that timer 149 and sensing mechanism 37 are timed to coincide with the travel of lugs 25, and that the position of yoke 237 can be adjusted so that sensing mechanism 37 istimed relative to bridge conveyor 279. *From the foregoing it can be seen that the bridge conveyor 279 is caused to move a minimum number of times. Thus, for example, if a number of consecutive pieces of lumber L, which are accepted, move through the sensing mechanism 37, then the bridge conveyor 279 will remain in a closed position. Then, if a board comes along which should be rejected,

COURSE MAKING PORTION Accumulator conveyor-291; which forms a part of the' course making portion, preferably comprises a plurality of laterally spaced conveyor portions, each of which consists of a continuous elongated member or belt 293. led over pulleys 295, 297 which are rotatably driven by suitable means, not shown, to carry the upper flight of elongated member 293 to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the pieces of lumber L which are deposited on the accumulator conveyor 291 will be moved to the right, as viewed in these figures, and onto a course making conveyor 299.

Course making conveyor 299 preferably includes a pair of spaced horizontal members 301 (see FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), with each of members 301 having a plurality of freely rotating wheels '303 rotatably mounted therefrom. Wheels 303 are arranged so that the upper surfaces thereof form an extension of accumulator conveyor 291, and

the accumulator conveyor will cause the boards Lto move out in side-by-side relationship onto the course making In other words, by

conveyor 299. Each of horizontal members 301 is supported by a pair of rocker arms 305, 307 which, in turn, are respectively fixedly attached to rocker shafts 309, 311 that extend transversely of apparatus 11 and which are respectively rookably supported from a suitable framework 313 of apparatus 11 that includes spaced transverse channel members 315, 317 interconnected by members 319.

A piston-cylinder assembly 321 is mounted on framework 313 and has the piston rod 323 thereof pivotally connected to an arm 325 which, in turn, is fixedly attached to rocker shaft 309. A plurality of rollers 333 are rotatably mounted between channel members 315, 317 so that the axes of rotation of the rollers are substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of wheels 303 and substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the pieces of lumber L along the main conveyor 13. Rollers 333 and course making conveyor 299 are so arranged that normally the upper surfaces of the wheels 303 are disposed above or at a higher level than the upper surfaces of rollers 333, as best seen in FIG. 2, so that the upper surfaces of wheels 303 are in alignment with the upper flight of accumulator conveyor 291 and so that the boards L on the course making conveyor 299 will not touch the rollers 333. For purposes of clarity, the above-described position of the course making conveyor will be referred to hereinafter as the normal or lifted position. When the course making conveyor 299 is in said lifted position, piston rod 323 will be in the retracted position. When piston rod 323 is extended, it will be understood that rocker shaft 309 will be caused to move clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, which will cause course making conveyor 299 to move to a lowered position wherein the upper surfaces of wheels 303 will move below the upper surfaces of rollers 333 so that the pieces of lumber L which were on course making conveyor 299 will be deposited on rollers 333. Rollers 333 are driven so that they rotate clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 4, to carry the pieces of lumber L off to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4. The means for driving rollers 333 is preferably a motor 335 (see FIG. 3) having a pulley 337 which drives another pulley 339 through a belt 341 and which pulley 339 is mounted on a shaft 343 that is rotatably mounted from framework 313 by suitable means. Shaft 343 is provided with a pulley 345 which drives another pulley 347 on the shaft of one of rollers 333. The other rollers 333 have similar pulleys 347 which are driven as by the belts 349 in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art.

The electrical control circuit for causing piston-cylinder assembly 321 to be actuated for actuating the course making conveyor 299, as above-described, is best seen in FIG. 21. In this figure, it will be seen the numeral 351 designates the hot lead which is connected through switch 353 to a suitable source of electricity, not shown. A pair of micro-switches 355, 357 are interposed in series in a lead 358 that extends from lead 351 to one terminal of a solenoid 359 which forms a part of a single-solenoid spring-return four-way valve 361. The other terminal of solenoid 359 is grounded so that upon closure of normally open switches 355, 357, the solenoid -359 is energized to cause valve 361 to be moved into an actuated position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 21. The solid line position of valve 361 is the normal position into which the valve is spring-actuated when solenoid 359 is deenergized. Switches 355, 357 are respectively disposed on the opposite ends of an elongated bar 363 (see FIG. 1) which is pivotally mounted from framework 313 for pivot about a vertical axis as at pivot point 365. Bar 363 is located adjacent the end of course making conveyor 299 and is limited in its pivot in both directions by means of stops 367, 369 which are contacted by the rearward side of bar 363. It will be understood that switches 355, 357 and bar 363 insure that there is a complete course of pieces of lumber L on course making conveyor 299 before piston-cylinder assembly 321 is actuated. This will be understood better when it is considered that both of the switches 355, 357 must be closed in order to actuate the course making conveyor, and both of these switches will only be closed when the first board L, or board to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, all along its length is flat against the bar 363 and the switches, and when the boards extend in correct transverse alignment across the course making conveyor 299. In other words, before the course making conveyor 299 fills up, the first board will in all likelihood be skewed somewhat and will only close one of the switches 355 or 357, but when the first board is pushed by the boards therebehind, it will cause correct transverse alignment of the boards and close the two switches, as heretofore described.

Closure of switches 355, 357 will also cause a pinch-01f or stop device 371 (see FIG. 2) to be actuated to hold back the board which is after the last board on course making conveyor 299 to prevent it from going onto the course making conveyor and prevent it from being moved endwise on rollers 333 with the course that has been formed.

Stop device 371 includes a plurality of hold-down members 373 for engaging the board adjacent the forward end of accumulator conveyor 291. Each hold-down member 373 includes an enlarged circular board engaging portion adjacent the lower end thereof and a rod 375 slidably extending through transverse bar 377. Suitable means, not shown, is provided for limiting the downward movement of rod 375 relative to transverse bar 377. Each of the rods 375 is provided with a compression spring 379 urging hold-down member 373 downwardly so that when the hold-down member contacts the board, the hold-down member will yield somewhat, and the accumulator conveyor 291 can slip relative to the board being held down. Bar 377 is movably mounted by means of parallel links 381. One of the links 381 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 385 which, in turn, is rotatably mounted from upstanding support structure 387, and the end of the other link 381 is pivotally mounted from structure 387 by suitable means. The piston rod 389 of a piston-cylinder assembly 391 is coupled to one of links 381 by suitable means so that when piston-cylinder assembly 391 is actuated by closure of switches 355, 357, the piston rod 389 is extended to cause clockwise rotation of the links 381, as viewed in FIG. 2, and downward movement of hold-down members 373 to pinch off the board, as heretofore described.

The fluid system (see FIG. 21) for actuating pistoncylinder assemblies 321, 391 is preferably as follows: A pump 393, which is driven by an electrical motor 395, pumps the fluid, as hydraulic fluid F, from a tank 397 into a main conduit 399. From main conduit 399', fluid F under pressure is supplied to valve 361 through conduit 401. When valve 361 is in the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 21, the fluid passes through the valve into the conduit 403 and into a sequencing valve 405 which allows the fluid to first pass to the rearward or lower end of the piston-cylinder assembly 391 through the conduit 407 and then, after a given pressure is reached, allows the fluid to pass also to the rearward end of pistoncylinder assembly 321 through the conduit 408. This sequence, as above-described, causes the pieces of lumber L to first be pinched off, as heretofore described, and then the course making conveyor 299 to be lowered, as heretofore described, after the lumber has been pinched ofli. When solenoid 359 is de-energized, the valve 361 will move to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 21, so that the fluid F from pump 393 will flow through the conduit 401, through the valve 361, and into the conduit 413 which is divided and flows to the forward ends of the piston-cylinder assemblies 321, 391 causing the piston rods 323, 389 to retract, which causes the course making conveyor 299 to be moved to the normally raised position and the hold-down members 373 to be moved to the normally raised position. It will be understood that the 407, sequencing valve 405, conduit 403, conduit 424, p

and main dump conduit 417. The fluid F from the rearward side of the piston of piston-cylinder assembly 321 will flow back to the tank 397 through conduit 408, com

duit 419, check valve 421, conduit 423, a portion of conduit 407, sequencing valve 405, conduit 403, valve 361, conduit 424, and conduit 417. It will be understood that the check valve 421 and the conduits 419, 423, interposed between the conduits 407, 408, must be provided since the sequencing valve 405 will not allow return flow therethrough from the conduit 408.

When the course making conveyor 299 is lowered, as heretofore described, and the pieces of lumber L are transferred off to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 4, by rollers 333, in a manner heretofore described, they move towards a feed mechanism 425 and then onto a hoist 427, where the pieces are stacked in a manner later to be described. However, before the pieces of lumber L reach feed mechanism 425, they pass over an offbalance switch mechanism 429 (see FIGS. 3 and 8) located before the feed mechanism and just'before the last of the rollers 333. Mechanism 429 comprises a pair of spaced rollers 431, 433 that are rotatably mounted at the opposite ends thereof by a pair of support bars 435 that, in turn, are respectively pivotally mounted by pins 437 from channel members 315, 317. The pins 437 are ofi- I center relative to support bars 435 so that normally when pieces of lumber L are not passing thereover, the mechanism 429 is in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 8, in which position it will be seen the roller 431 is con siderably above the level of roller 433. A normally open switch 439 is mounted from channel member 315 in such a position that it is contacted by support bar 435 to close the switch when the pieces of lumber L pass over roller 431 and pivot the support bar counterclockwise to the broken line position shown in FIG. 8. Switch 439 is arranged in parallel across switches 355, 357 (see FIG. 21) so that the hold-down members 373 are kept in a downward position and course making conveyor 299 is kept in a downward position until the rearward ends of the pieces of lumber L pass over switch mechanism 429 and the rollers 431, 433 return to their normal positions.

FEED MECHANISM The upper part of feed mechanism 425 comprises a rigid yoke 441 (see FIGS. 15 and 17) which includes a pair of spaced side arms 443, 445 rigidly interconnected adjacent the upper ends thereof by cross piece 447. Yoke 441,is pivotally mounted from channel members 315, 317 as by shaft 343 rotatably extending through bearings 449 attached to side arms 443, 445 adjacent the lower ends thereof. Yoke 441 is held at a selected angle, as best seen in FIG. 17, as by means of a piston-cylinder assembly 451 .that is mounted from the frame 453 of hoist 427. It will .be seen in FIGS. 15 and 17 that the piston arm 455 of assembly451 is pivotally attached to lugs 457 which, in turn, are-fixedly attached to cross piece 447 so that the angular position of the yoke can be adjusted by actuation of the piston-cylinder asembly. The fluid system of piston cylinder assembly 451 is best shown in FIG. 21 wherein it will be seen a conduit 459 leads from main conduit 399 through a cut-off valve 461 12; that by varying the position of the yoke 441, the pres sure on the pieces of lumber L as they pass through the feed mechanism 425 may be changed to accommodate different types of wood, and to adjust the mechanism.

A beam 467, in the form'of an inverted channel member, extends between side arm 443, 445 and is fixedly. connected thereto. A plurality of stud-shafts 469 are fixedly attached to beam 467 in spaced apart relationship along the length thereof and upstand therefrom. 'An elongated plate 471 is supported on top of the stud-shafts 469 in spaced relationship above beam 467 and is anchored to the stud-shafts by means of bolts 473 'respec-. tively threadedly engaged. in threaded sockets in the upper ends of stud-shafts 469. A plurality of pieces 475 are fixedly attached on top of plate 471 in spaced rela tionship and upstand therefrom. Pieces 475 slidably support a rod 477 extending through aligned apertures in the pieces. A short-stroke piston-cylinder assembly 479 is attached to one of the end ones of pieces 475, with the piston rod 481 thereof being coupled to rod 477'for shifting the rod 477 endwise.

A plurality of assemblies 483 are respectively provided in conjunction with stud-shafts 469, and the following description of one of the assemblies 483 will suffice for all, since they are substantially identical:

Assembly 483 comprises a rigid and substantially trape-.

zoidally-shaped support member 485 that includes a long upper member 487, a shorter lower member 489 spaced therebelow, and two angularly disposed and spaced side members 491, 493 rigidly interconnecting the ends of the upper and lower members. In addition, support member 485 includes a collar 495 rigidly interposed in the middle of upper member 487 and pivotally mounted on stud-shaft 469 between beam 467 and plate 471, so that the support member is adapted to pivot aboutthe verti-1 cal axis of the stud-shaft. A pair of resilient wheels 497 are rotatably supported from support member. 485 adjacent the lower end thereof by an axle 499. A roller 501 frictionally contacts the top of wheels 497 and is rotatably mounted adjacent the opposite ends thereof from side arms 443, 445. Roller 501 is driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 17, by suitable means, as a belt 503 extending over a pulley 505. keyed. to the axle of roller 501 and extending over a pulley, 507

keyed to drive shaft 343; It will be understood that clockwise drive of roller 501, as above-described, will cause wheels 497 to be driven counterclockwise, as viewed in FIGS..4 and 17. 'The wheels 497 are adapted to engage the top surfaces of the pieces of lumber L which pass between the wheels and a roller 509 located below the pieces of lumber so that they are fed to the right, as

viewed in FIGS. 3, 4 and 17. Roller 509 is rotatably mounted from channel members 315, 317, and is driven by means of a belt 510 and suitable pulleys. In addi-1 tion, assembly 483 includes a lever 511 that is, pivotally mounted from rod 477 by means of a collar 513 through i which the rod extends and to which lever 511 is fixedly attached. Lever 511 is provided with a slot 515 therethrough adjacent the distal end thereof. Lever 511 is shiftable or pivotable, as by hand, into two positions,

namely, a first position, shown in solid lines in FIGS. 15 i and 17, in which position the lever is engaged with a pin 517 fixedly attached to support member 485 adjacent one end of uppermember 487, with the pin extending through slot 515; and a second position, shown in in broken lines in FIGS. 15 and 17, in which position the lever is engaged with a pin 519 fixedly attached to support member 485 adjacent the opposite end of upper member, 487- from pin 517, with the pin 519 extending through slot 1 A compression spring 521 is disposed around rod 1 13 any shifting lengthwise of rod 477 is transmitted through one or the other of springs 521, 525 to collar 513 and lever 511, and any shock or the like due to irregularities of the pieces of lumber L, which are transmitted to the wheels 497, will be taken up through the springs 521, 525.

In FIG. 15, rod 477 is shown in a central position so that lever 511 is in line with the vertical center line of stud-shaft 469 so that the wheels 497 will be in a straight line relative to the direction of travel of the pieces of lumber L. Assuming that the levers 511 are all in the same position, that is, over pins 517, as best seen in solid lines in FIG- 15, it will be understood that when rod 477 is shifted in one direction, as, for example, to the left in this fig., the support members 485 will be caused to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in this fig., so that the rollers will be skewed in a first position relative to the direction of travel of the pieces of lumber L and will cause the leading edge of the lumber to move over to the left, as viewed in this fig., and when the rod 477 is shifted in the opposite direction, or to the right, the wheels 497 will be skewed in the opposite direction in a second position and will cause the lumber to angle over to the right, as viewed in this fig. Then, if any of the levers 511 are shifted over to the other pin 519, as shown by the lever in broken lines in FIG. 15, it will cause the wheels 497 to be skewed in just the opposite direction from that above-described. In other words, when lever 511 is over pin 519, the wheels 497 corresponding to that lever will .be skewed or angled in an opposite direction from those wheels corresponding to the levers 511 which are over pins 517. Thus, various skew patterns may be provided. For example, the outside pairs of wheels 497 may be skewed outwardly or in diverging relationship to cause the outside boards to be moved outwardly, or the levers 511 may be all on the same side to cause other patterns, such as parallel patterns or criss-cross patterns, as will be more apparent in the details to follow later in the specification. Also, the relative surface speeds of wheels 497 as compared with roller 509 are preferably not the same, so that the skewing will be more pronounced with less pressure on the boards.

The fluid system for piston-cylinder assembly 479 is shown in FIG. 21, wherein it will be seen a two-position four-way valve 529 is provided which has a pair of opposing solenoids 561, 533 for the actuation thereof. When solenoid 531 is energized, the valve 529 is in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 21, and in this position it will be seen that hydraulc fluid under pressure flows through conduit 535 to valve 529 and through the valve to conduit 537 which is connected to the forward end of piston-cylinder assembly 479, which causes the piston rod 481 thereof to be retracted and shift rod 477 to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 6 15 and 16. It will be understood that the fluid will be exhausted from the rearward end of piston-cylinder assembly 479 through conduit 539, through valve 529 and into conduit 417 through conduit 541. Then, when solenoid 533 is energized and solenoid 531 is de-energized, the valve 529 will be actuated to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 21, whereupon the high pressure fluid will flow through conduit 535, through the valve, and through conduit 539 to the rearward end of piston-cylinder assembly 479, which will cause the piston rod 481 to extend and move the rod 477 to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 15 and 16. It will be understood that the fluid from the forward end of piston-cylinder assembly 479 will be exhausted through conduit 537, through valve 529, and through a conduit 543 that leads to conduit 417.

The electrical system for piston-cylinder assembly 479 is also shown in FIG. 21, wherein it will be seen a lead 545 extends from the lead 351 to a normally open switch 547 (see FIG. 2) that is located adjacent rocker shaft 311 and is actuated by a cam 549 on the rocker shaft so that when course making conveyor 299 is actuated. to a low.-

14 ered position, as heretofore described, the switch 547 is closed. A lead 551 extends from the other contact of switch 547 to a hand selector switch 553 that is located in any convenient place and operable between a first position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 21, and a second position, shown in broken lines in this fig. A lead 555 extends from the contact of said second position of switch 553 to ratchet-type switch 557. Switch 557 (see FIG. 2) is located adjacent rocker shaft 309 and is actuated by a cam 559 thereon which contacts the switch. Each time the course making conveyor 299 is lowered, the cam 559 contacts the switch 557 and causes it to be moved from one position to the next. The switch 557 is of the type well-known to those skilled in the art, which has two positions, namely, a first position shown in solid lines in FIG. 21 and a second position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 21. A lead 561 extends from the contact of the first position of switch 557 to solenoid 533, and a lead 563 extends from the contact of the second position of switch 557 to solenoid 5 31. A lead 565 extends from the first position contact of switch 553 to switch 557 and has interposed in series therein a normally open switch 567, whose function and location will be described later in the specification.

HOIST AND CONTROLS The frame 453 of hoist 427 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 9) preferably comprises a forward pair of spaced posts 569 upstanding from a suitable base 5-71, a second pair of spaced rearward posts 573 also upstanding from base 571, and a pair of laterally spaced horizontal side members 575, 576 rigidly interconnecting the forward posts 569 and rearward posts 573. A vertically movable lift carriage 577 is mounted on top of an upstanding hydraulic jack 579 that has the cylinder 581 thereof embedded in base 571, with the piston 583 thereof being attached at its upper end to lift carriage 577. A pair of equalizing cables 585 are provided on the opposite sides of hoist 427, and each has its lower end anchored to the rearward posts 573 as at 587, and from there extends over a pulley 589 rotatably mounted from lift carriage 577 adjacent the rearward end thereof, and then extends below another pulley 59*1 rotatably mounted from lift carriage 577 adjacent the forward end thereof, from where the cable extends upwardly to a place of anchoring at 593 on forward post 569. It will be understood that extension of piston rod 583 will cause the lift carriage 577 to raise, and retraction of the rod will cause the lift carriage to lower, and the cables 585 will cause the force to be distributed at either end of the lift carriage.

Lift carriage 5:77 additionally includes a plurality of transversely extending spaced rollers 595 that are rotatably mounted adjacent the opposite ends thereof from the side frame members 597 of the lift carriage 57 7. For the purposes of removing the stack S of pieces of lumber L, the rollers 595 are preferably selectively driven by suitable means, as by the belts 599 which run over pulleys 601 respectively attached to the shafts of rollers 595 and which are rotatably driven by suitablev means, as a motor or the like, not shown.

A pair of guide 603, 605 are respectively mounted on horizontal members 575, 576 so that they have limited vertical movement. Guides 603, 605 are substantially identical, and the following description of guide 605 will sufiice for both. Guide 605 preferably comprises a pair of vertical plates 607, 609 that slidably extend on opposite sides of horizontal member 57 6 from adjacent one of the rearward posts 573 along a major portion of the length of the horizontal member 576. A plurality of spaced upper fastening members 611 rigidly interconnect vertical plates 607, 609 adjacent the upper edges thereof and extend over horizontal member 57 6. In addition, a plurality of lower fastening members 613 interconnect vertical plates 607, 609 adjacent the lower edges thereof and are normally spaced below horizontal member 576 when the lift carriage 577 is in a lowered position. Also, when the lift carriage 577 is in a lowered position, the guide 605 will be "supported from horizontal member 576 by engagement of upper fastening members 611 on top of the horizontal member. Guides 603, 605 are aranged above lift carriage 577 so that when the lift carriage is in upper positions during the loading of the first few layers of pieces of lumber. L, the guides will ride on the lift carriage and travel up and down therewith, in a manner which will be better understood in the description to follow later in the specification.

A rigid and pivotable flap 615, which preferably has an upturned rounded lower end as at 617, extends between guides 603, 605 in spaced relationship thereto and angles upwardly and rearwardly from the lower end thereof to the upper end where it 'is fixedly attached to a shaft 619 that, in turn, is pivotally mounted at the opposite ends thereof respectively from horizontal members 575, 576 by brackets 621. An arm 623 is also fixedly attached to shaft 619 and extends forwardly therefrom where it terminates in an enlarged end 625 that is adapted to successively contact switches 627, 629, 631 and 567 as arm 623 moves upwardly, or counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 13, when carried upwardly by the pieces of lumber L contacting flap 615. It will be seen that the lower end of flap 615 is located in such a position that the pieces of lumber L will be substantially half-way out onto the stack S when the leading ends contact the flap. Switch 567 is normally open and is closed momentarily when contacted by arm 623. Switches 627 and 631 are normally closed and are opened when contacted by arm 623. Switch 629 is a delay type of switch which is normally open, but which closes a given number of seconds, as, for example, three seconds, after contact by arm 623. Switches 567, .627, 629 and 631 are all mounted from horizontal member 576 on an upstanding bracket 633 fixedly supported on the horizontal member.

The electrical circuit in which switches 627, 629 and 631 are provided is shown in FIG. 21, wherein it will be seen switches 627, 629 are arranged in series and interposed in a lead 635.that extends between'lead 351 and the solenoid 637 of the two-position four-way double-solenoid valve 639, which has a center position wherein all ports are closed ofl and to which the valve returns when both solenoids are de-energized. Switch 631 and another switch 641 are arranged in series and interposed in a lead 643 that extends between lead 351. and theother solenoid 645 of valve 639. Switch 641 is n01- mally open and is located adjacent switch mechanism 429 so that when the pieces of lumber L run over the switch mechanism, switch 641 will be closed. When both switches 641 and 631 are closed, it will be understood that'solenoid 645 will be energized, and the valve 639 will be moved to the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 21. On the other hand, it will be understood that when switches 627 and 629 are closed, solenoid 637 will be energized, and the valve 639 will be in the position shown in solid lines, which will cause downward movement of the piston 583 of hydraulic jack 579 to lower the lift carriage 577. The fluid system causing the above-mentioned actuation of hydraulic jack 579 is as follows: When the valve 639 is in the solid line position upon energization of solenoid 637, hydraulic fluid will flow from main conduit 399 through the valve and through a conduit 647 to the upper end of jack 579, and the fluid Will be exhausted frorn the lower end of the jack through the conduit 649, through the valve, and through the conduit 651 to the conduit 417. Then, when the valve 639 is in the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 21, the hydraulic fluid under pressure will be introduced from main conduit 399 through the valve and through conduit 649 to the lower end of the hydraulic jack 579 to cause lift carriage 577 to be lifted. The fluid will be exhausted from the upper end of the jack 579 through the conduit 647 and through the valve 639 to the conduit 417. When both of the solenoids .637, 645 are de-energized, valve 16 639 will return to the center position, which is the closed position, and no fluid will flow, whereupon the jack 579 will stop.

In describing the combined operation of feed mechanism 425 and hoist 427, it is assumed that the hoist is at a ready position, as shown in FIG. 4, in which position the hoist is shut off and stopped at its lower limit of travel by contact of arm 623 on switch 627. This ready level is shown as at the line .a in FIG. 13,. It will be understood that the top surface of the top layer of boards will be even with the ready line a when there are boards stacked on the hoist 427, or if the hoist is empty, the topof rollers 595 will be even with ready line a. Also, for purposes of this descriptionof the operation, it is assumed that a course of boards have been formed on-course making conveyor 299 and that they are just starting off towards the hoist 427. In addition, it is assumed that switch 553 is in the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 21, and that switch 557 has just been actuated and is in the position shown in solid lines in this figure, which caused rollers 497 to be skewed to said first positions thereof. Also, it is as-. sumed that levers 511 are in the positions shown in solid lines in FIG. 15. When the layer of boards starts towards the hoist 427,the first thing that happens. is that .the leading edges thereof pass over switch mechanism 429, which closes switch 439 and switch 641. Closure of switch 439 will keep the course making conveyor 299 in the lowered position and stop device 371 actuated as long as the boards are passing over switch mechanism 429. Closure of switch 641- will cause lift carriage 577 to start upwardly. The boards L will then move into feed mechanism 425 where they will be skewed towards guide 603. In the meantime, before the oncoming; course reaches the stack S, the hoist 427 will have carried the stack S upwardly until the upper surface of the top board on the stack has reached a receiving level, indicated as at line b in FIG. 13,whereupon the hoist will be cut off by opening of switch 631 1by arm 623. However, just before the arm 623 reaches switch 631,,it contacts switch 629 and starts the timing thereof. After the up-.

per board has reached the receiving level b, asabovedescribed, the boards L will be moving outwardly onto the stack S, and when the leading edges are about halfway out on the stack, they will lift the lower end of flap 615 to the level 0 shown in FIG. 13 and will cause the t 7 arm 623 to be lifted into contact with switch .567, which has no effect when switch 553 is in the dotted line position, but which does function when switch 553 is in the solid line position, as will be explained later in the specification.

629, as, for example, three seconds, the switch is closed, which causes the lift carriage 577 to start downwardly and continue downwardly until the top of the course which has just been received reaches the ready level a,.. at which time the hoist 427 is cut Off and ready to receive another course.

It will be understood that by the time the above-mew tioned actions have been taken place and the course is heretofore described, and the second course starts to-.

wards the hoist with the heretofore mentioned actuation of the switches taking place, except that it will be under-,- stood this time the switch 557 will be actuated to the dotted line position upon lowering ofthe course making conveyor, which will cause the rollers 497 to be skewed to said second positions, in which positions the rollers are angled towards guide 603 so that when the pieces of lumber L finally are in place on stack S, they are disposed over towards guide 605 with the board adjacent the guide After the oncoming course has been received on top of stack S and after the time has elapsed for switch I 605 being in abutting relationship thereto all along the length thereof, and any spaces in the course being towards guide 605. Then, the next course will actuate switch 557 back to the solid line position so that the pieces of lumber L will be against guide 603. Thus, it will be seen that the boards will all be parallel, but successive layers will be offset first towards guide 603 and then towards guide 605, to form what is called an offset parallel skewing pattern. It has been found that a more pronounced and effective skewing can be accomplished by providing projections 653, 655 (see FIG. 1) which are located just before the feed mechanism 425 on either side thereof and projecting respectively inwardly from channel members 315, 317. These projections 653, 655 contact the trailing edges of the outside pieces of lumber L as they move through the feed mechanism 425 When the boards are being skewed.

For a different type of pattern for stack L, the switch 553 is moved to the solid line position shown in FIG. 21, whereupon the switch 567 is effective. The switch 567 will be closed when the course of boards is substantially half-way out on the hoist 427 and when the flap 615 is contacted, so that during the first part of the movement of the course out onto the hoist, the boards are skewed in one direction (that direction in which the skew wheels 497 have been left after the last course of boards passed through), and then during the last half of the movement of the boards onto the stack S, the wheels 497 are skewed in the opposite direction upon closure of switch 567 so that the rearward ends of the boards move in the opposite direction. This will cause the boards to be aligned somewhat diagonally across the stack, and then the next layer aligned in the opposite direction in a criss-cross pattern.

After the stack S has been completed in the desired type of pattern, the stack may then be moved off of hoist 427 as by actuation of the rollers 595.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the apparatus of the present invention accomplishes all three of the ultimate objectives heretofore mentioned in an apparatus of the type for sorting lumber into desired categories or separations and stacking the separated lumber. In addition, it will be understood that such an apparatus is provided which does a very effective job in sensing the individual boards to see whether or not they should be separated, and subsequently accumulating selected boards. Then, the accumulated course is moved off automatically and stacked automatically into a stack having a desired pattern. Also, it will be understood that the arrangement or pattern of the stack can be varied into a number of different patterns, as, for example, by changing the switch 553 or by placing any desired combinations of the levers 511 either over pins 517 or pins 519. Also, it will be understood that more switches than switches 107, 111, 113 and 143 may be provided in series if other categories are desired, as, for example, for grading the boards, and it will further be understood that any of the switches may be closed or shunted if it is desired to disregard a particular category.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

1. Apparatus for sorting and stacking lumber comprising main conveyor means adapted to convey boards of lumber with the length of said boards being disposed substantially transverse relative to the direction of travel of said main conveyor means, said main conveyor means including means for sequentially receiving and positioning the boards in substantially parallel and equally spaced relationship, a plurality of lumber sorting and stacking stations disposed along said main conveyor means; each of said sorting and stacking stations comprising an accumulator conveyor disposed above said main conveyor means, a pivot-ally mounted bridge conveyor movable between a closed position spanning said main conveyor means and said accumulator conveyor and a position open therefrom, said bridge conveyor in said open position being adapted to permit the passage of boards on said main conveyor means past said sorting and stacking station and when in said closed position to shunt or remove boards from said main conveyor means and onto said accumulator conveyor, means for actuating said bridge convey-or, a hoist disposed laterally of said main conveyor means, means operable at intervals for consecutively forming individual courses of boards from boards accumulated by said accumulator conveyor, and course transfer means sequentially operable with said course forming means for transferring each consecutively formed course of boards onto said hoist and for forming a stack of boards in courses.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means for actuating said bridge conveyor includes a powered mechanism operably coupled to said bridge conveyor and operable responsive to a signal for moving said bridge conveyor between open and closed positions, sensor means adjacent said main conveyor means for determining if a piece of lumber is in a pre-determined category and is to be removed from said main conveyor means and establishing a signal to that effect, saidsensor means being positioned to sense each board a certain distance ahead of said bridge conveyor relative to the direction of travel of said main conveyor means; and timer means synchronized with said main conveyor means for receiving the signal from said sensor means, for holding the signal while said main conveyor means travels the above-mentioned certain distance, and for releasing the signal and actuating said powered mechanism at the appropriate moment if the piece of lumber is in said category to move said bridge conveyor to a closed position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said timer means comprises a frame, wheel means mounted from said frame, said wheel means including a plurality of shiftable pins equi-distantly spaced from and equi-angularly arranged about the axis of said wheel means, said pins respectively corresponding to pieces of lumber which are sensed by said sensor means, said pins and the pieces of lumber on said main conveyor means being so related that the time it takes a given number of successive pieces of lumber to pass by said sensor means is equivalent to the time it takes a corresponding number of said pins to pass by a fixed point adjacent said wheel means, each of said plurality of pins being shiftable toward one or the other of the sides of said wheel means, a pair of electrical switches, each of said switches being disposed at a respective side of said wheel means and respectively operably engageable with one or the other of the end portions of each of said plurality of pins, said pair of switches being connected with said powered mechanism for governing the up and down movement of said bridge conveyor and for the acceptance or the rejection of a board.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which each of said pins has an accept end portion and a reject end portion and each is slidable to and from one and the other side of said wheel means to a board reject or a board accept position, and in which said timer means includes solenoid means responsive to the signal from said sensor means, said solenoid means being operable to shift the appropriate one of said pins toward the accept side of said wheel means and to engage the accept switch of said pair of switches, and eraser means disposed ahead of said solenoid means relative to the rotation of said wheel means, said eraser means being effective to move each of said pins to a reject position prior to being acted on by said solenoid means.

5. Apparatus for sorting and stacking lumber comprising main conveyor means adapted to convey boards of lumber with the length of said boards being disposed substantially transverse relative to the direction of travel of v19 said main conveyor means, said main conveyor means in cluding means for sequentially receiving and positioning the boards in substantially parallel and equally spaced relationship,'a plurality of lumber sorting and stacking stations disposed along said main conveyor means; each of said sorting and stacking stations comprising an accumulator conveyor disposedabove said main conveyor means and having a board departing end, a pivotally mounted bridge conveyor movable between a closed position spanning said mainconveyor means and said accumulator conveyor and a position open therefrom, said bridge conveyor in said 'open position being adapted to permit the passage of boards on said main conveyor means past said sorting and stacking station and when in said closed position to shunt or remove boards from said main conveyor means onto said accumulator conveyor, means for actuating said bridge conveyor including sensor means for sensing the dimensions of each board entering said station and means resposive to said sensor means for moving said bridge conveyor between open and closed positions, a hoist disposed laterally of said main conveyor means, course forming means operable at intervals for consecutively forming individual courses of boards, said course forming means including -a course making conveyor means adjacent said board departing end of said accumulator conveyor with said course making conveyor means being adapted to receive boards thereon from said accumulator conveyor, said course forming means also including intermittently operable stop means for limiting the travel of boards from said accumulator conveyor to said course making conveyor means, and course transfer means sequentially operable with said course forming means for transferring each consecutively formed course of boards onto said hoist thereby to form a stack of boards in courses.

6. The apparatus of claim in which said course transfer means includes driven feed rollers rot-atably mounted subjacent said course making conveyor means and in which said course making conveyor means isoperable between a lifted position in which the boards thereon are held out of contact with said feed rollers and a lowered position in which the boards thereon will be moved into contact with said feed rollers to cause movement of the boards endwise.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which means is provided adjacent said course making conveyor means for determining when said course making conveyor means has a complete course thereon and for then initiating action of said course making conveyor means to said lowered position.

8. In lumber sorting and stacking apparatus including main conveyor means for conveying pieces of lumber in spaced apart relationship along a path of movement, means for selecting and removing pieces of lumber of a given category, means for accumulating the selected and removed pieces of lumber, means for forming individual courses of lumber from the pieces of lumber accumulated, hoist means, feed means for feeding the individual courses of lumber onto said hoist means for the stacking thereof; said feed means comprising a lower roller adapted to contact the lower side of said courses of lumber, at least one resilient wheel disposed over said lower roller adapted to contact the upper side of said courses of lumber, and means for skewing said wheel at an angle towards at least one side of said hoist means to cause movement of the board contacted thereby towards said one side of said hoist means. a

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which said hoist means includes a frame, a lift carriage, a jack supporting said lift carriage adjacent one end of said lift carriage for upward and downward movement thereof relative to said frame, a first pulley mounted on said lift carriage, adjacent said one end thereof, a second pulley mounted on said lift carriage adjacent the opposite end thereof from said one end, and an equalizing cable anchored adjacent one 2O end to said frame; said cable extending upwardly from the place of anchoring over said first pulley and under said second pulley, and finally upwardly to a place of anchoring on the upper end of said frame.

10. In lumber sorting and stacking apparatus including main conveyor means for conveying pieces, of lumber in spaced apart relationship along a path of movement,:

means for selecting and removing pieces of lumber of a given category, means for accumulating the selected and removed pieces of lumber, means for forming individual courses of lumber from the .pieces of lumber accumulated, hoist means, feed means for feeding the individual courses of lumber onto said hoist means for the stackingv thereof; said feed means comprising a lower roller adapted to contact the lower side of said courses of lumber, a p1u-,

r-ality of assemblies disposed over said lower roller and each including at least one rotatably mounted resilient wheel adapted to contact the upper side of said courses of lumber, means contacting said wheel of each of said assemblies for the rotational drive thereof, means respeca tively pivot-ally mounting said assemblies for pivot of, each of said assemblies to carry s-aid wheel thereof into a first position in which said wheel is skewed at an angletowards one side of said hoist means and into a second position in which said wheel is skewed at an angle towards the'oppo-,

site side of said hoist means, piston-cylinder means including a piston operable between an extended and a retracted position, coupling means coupled between said piston and said assemblies for moving said assemblies, bea tween said first and second positions thereof responsive to movement of said piston between said extended and re,-

tra cted positions, control means operably coupled to said courses of lumber from the pieces of lumber accumulated,

hoist means, feed means for feeding the individual courses of lumber onto said hoist means for the stacking thereof; said feed means comprising a lower roller adapted to contact the lower side of said courses, of lumber, a plurality of assemblies disposed over said lower roller and each including at least one rotatably mounted resilient Wheel adapted to contact the upper, side of said courses of lumber, means contacting said wheel of each of said assemblies for the rotational drive thereof, means respectively pivotally mounting said assemblies for pivot of each, of said assemblies to carry said wheel thereof into a first position in which said wheel is skewed at an angle towards one side of said hoist means and into a second position in which said wheel is skewed at an angle towards theopposite side of said hoist means, piston-cylinder means'including a piston operable between an extended and a re-,

tracted position, coupling means coupled between said piston and said assemblies for moving said assemblies between said first and second positions thereof responsive to movement of said piston between said extended and retracted positions, said coupling means including means, respectively associated with said assemblies for selecting the positions into which the particular assembly isto'be moved when said piston is in said extended and retracted positions, control means operably coupled to said hoist means and said feed means for causing actuation of said piston-cylinder means and said hoist means at the proper time to cause stacking of the courses of lumber onto said hoist means in the desired pattern.

12. In lumber sorting and stacking apparatus including conveyor means for conveying pieces of lumber in spaced,

apart relationship along a path of movement, means for selecting and removing pieces of lumber of a given category, means for accumulating the selected and removed pieces of lumber, means for forming individual courses of lumber from the pieces of lumber accumulated, hoist means, feed means [for feeding the individual courses of lumber onto said hoist means for the stacking thereof; said feed means comprising a lower roller adapted to contact the lower side of said courses of lumber, a plurality of assemblies disposed over said lower roller and each including at least one rotatably mounted resilient wheel adapted to contact the upper side of said courses of lumber, means cont-acting said wheel of each of said assemblies for the rotational drive thereof, means respectively pivotally mounting said assemblies for pivot of each of said assemblies to carry said wheel thereof into a first position in which said wheel is skewed at an angle towards one side of said hoist means and into a second position in which said wheel is skewed at an angle towards the opposite side of said hoist means, piston-cylinder means including a piston operable between an extended and a retracted position, coupling means coupled between said piston and said assemblies for moving said assemblies between said first and second positions thereof responsive to movement of said piston between said extended and retracted positions, said coupling means including means respectively associated with said assemblies for selecting the positions into which the particular assembly is to be moved when said piston is in said extended and retracted positions, control means operably coupled to said hoist means and said feed means for causing actuation of said piston-cylinder means and said hoist means at the proper time to cause stacking of the courses of lumber onto said hoist means in the desired pattern, and said control means including means for causing pivot of said assemblies into an opposite one of the positions thereof responsive to movement of a course substantially halt-way out onto the stack.

and each including at least one rotatably mounted resilient Wheel adapted to contact the upper side of the lumber, means contacting said wheel of each of said assemblies for the rotational drive thereof, means respectively pivot ally mounting said assemblies for pivot of each of said assemblies to carry said wheel thereof into a first position in which said wheel is skewed at an angle towards one side of said hoist means and into a second position in which said wheel is skewed at an angle towards the opposite side of said hoist means, piston-cylinder means including a piston operable between an extended and a retracted position, coupling means coupled between said piston and said assemblies for moving said assemblies between said first and second positions thereof responsive to movement of said piston between said extended and retracted positions, said coupling means including means respectively associated with said assemblies for selecting the positions into which the particular assembly is to be moved when said piston is in said extended and retracted positions, control means operably coupled to said hoist means and said feed means for causing actuation of said pistoncylinder means and said hoist mean-s at the proper time to cause stacking of the lumber onto said hoist means in the desired pattern, and said control means including means for causing pivot of said assemblies into an opposite one of the positions thereof responsive to movement of the lumber substantially half-way out onto the stack.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,506,657 8/1924 Nordstrom et a1 21411 2,132,447 10/ 1938 Stout 209-74 2,867,323 1/1959 Cook 209 2,901,106 8/1959 Aitiken 209-103 2,928,559 3/ 1960 Mosely 2146 3,080,052 3/1963 Hanbury 2146 3,104,006 9/1963 Jones 20 9--74 X M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Exwminer.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiner.

C. H. SPADERNA, J. N. ERLIOH, Assistant Examiners. 

8. IN LUMBER SORTING AND STACKING APPARATUS INCLUDING MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS FOR CONVEYING PIECES OF LUMBER IN SPACED APART RELATIONSHIP ALONG A PATH OF MOVEMENT, MEANS FOR SELECTING AND REMOVING PIECES OF LUMBER OF A GIVEN CATEGORY, MEANS FOR ACCUMULATING THE SELECTED AND REMOVED PIECES OF LUMBER, MEANS FOR FORMING INDIVIDUAL COURSES OF LUMBER FROM THE PIECES OF LUMBER ACCUMULATED, HOIST MEANS, FEED MEANS FOR FEEDING THE INDIVIDUAL COURSES OF LUMBER ONTO SAID HOIST MEANS FOR THE STACKING THEREOF; SAID FEED MEANS COMPRISING A LOWER ROLLER ADAPTED TO COMTACT THE LOWER SIDE OF SAID COURSES OF LUMBER, AT LEAST ONE RESILIENT WHEEL DISPOSED OVER SAID LOWER ROLLER ADAPTED TO CONTACT THE UPPER SIDE OF SAID COURSES OF LUMBER, AND MEANS FOR SKEWING SAID WHEEL AT AN ANGLE TOWARDS AT LEAST ONE SIDE OF SAID HOIST MEANS TO CAUSE MOVEMENT OF THE BOARD CONTACTED THEREBY TOWARDS SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID HOIST MEANS. 